The FBI says it has recovered what is believed to be the weapon used in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, during an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.
A high-powered bolt-action rifle was discovered in a wooded area near the scene of the attack, according to Salt Lake City FBI Special Agent Robert Bohls. Officials believe it was the weapon used in the shooting.
The suspect, described as college-aged, remains at large as investigators work “around the clock” to track him down. Authorities said they have good video footage of the shooter but will not release it at this time.
According to Utah Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason, the suspect arrived on campus at 11:52 a.m., moved through stairwells to the roof of a building overlooking the event, and fired down at Kirk. Afterward, the gunman fled into a nearby neighborhood.
Investigators have also recovered a footwear impression, palm print, and forearm imprints from the area. Mason emphasized the shooting was a targeted attack: “We are investing everything we have into this and we will catch this individual.”
Utah Valley University will remain closed until September 14. As the manhunt continued, tributes poured in. US President Donald Trump announced Kirk will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously, calling him “a giant of his generation.” Trump also ordered U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff through Sunday.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox described the killing as a “political assassination” and grew emotional while addressing the nation’s growing divisions. Vice President JD Vance called Kirk “a genuinely good guy and a young father.”
Leaders from both parties condemned the attack. Former President Joe Biden said, “There is no place in our country for this kind of violence. It must end now,” while California Gov. Gavin Newsom called it “disgusting, vile, and reprehensible.”
Charlie Kirk, 31, founded Turning Point USA in 2012 at age 18 and was considered one of the most influential figures in the conservative youth movement. He was a father of two and a close ally of President Trump.
